Seahawks Fans: You Are Not Alone

Do you realize that the Seahawks are only one game worse (recordwise) than the Pittsburgh Steelers? Who would have ever though that as this season was unfolding and before the Steelers’s five game skid? I certainly wouldn’t have. The Steelers were a team that I wanted Seattle to emulate because of their tenacious defense and because Roethlisberger is a steadying, even if yard-wastey, influence.

I’m shocked at their demise, just as I am at Tennessee’s season. Even though they are rallying from a preposterous 0-6 hole I just don’t think they’re going to make the playoffs (remaining schedule: Miami at home, San Diego at home, and Seattle in Seattle–two playoff teams, potentially, and one terrible team). I would love it if they made it in, but it’s a tall order with absolutely no room for error. But for the sake of the league, don’t we need Chris Johnson in the playoffs? We need to see defenders grasping at air and getting off of their stride by trying to run down one of the most veddy players in the NFL.

Some other teams that shock me by their ineptitude are…

The New York Giants (7-6) because I loved their defense last year and for a large part of this year, but it turns out that they’re terrible, allowing an astounding 25.4 points per game (28th in the NFL)…

The Atlanta Falcons (6-7), although their losses are attributable to losing Matt Ryan and Michael Turner…only two of their best offensive players and certainly the most important)…

The Carolina Panthers (5-8), yes, Delhomme defines implosion, but their running game, and running backs in particular, are fantastic…

The Baltimore Ravens (7-6) I thought that Flacco was going to take another loping step forward, that Ray Rice would be awesome–and he is–and that their defense would carry them. Well they’re dangerously close to getting booted out of the playoffs and I can’t figure out why…

The NFL is truly confusing and while the Seahawks look completely adrift at sea with no signs of getting better (that Houston game cemented it, my god they are bad). Although the Seahawks are not the only ones out there who are struggling (when we thought they’d be good). There are other traditionally good teams are suffering too. I suppose what I’m saying is as Seahawks fans we’re not alone.

Now that we know that Seattle is not bringing Holmgren back to run the show (and that he’s likely headed to Cleveland), where do they go from here? I swear, if he makes Cleveland better and lands Chucky… I don’t know what I’ll do. (yes I do, I’ll do nothing, which is what I’d do anyway… or else I’d write about it. Angrily).

One of the ironic things about the list of teams above is that I thought that those teams had a blueprint for success in the NFL. Tough defense, accurate QBs (not Delhomme), strong-ish running games (Pittsburgh doesn’t have that), ugly but effective offense (they all fit this category… pretty = New Orleans, San Diego, Indy, Minny even though they’re tough as hell offensively)… now my world is turned upside down. What does it take to be successful in the NFL? I have no idea. Having a world-class QB seems to be the best indicator, but it has to be more than that. In the coming weeks, months, or years, I’ll try and figure that out. But I’m sure that once I come to some sort of conclusion, the game will change again.